Tianming Pavilion was almost reduced to ruins.
Ren Shitou was like a tireless war machine; each punch he threw caused the already crumbling buildings to collapse further.
The Fuzi, Tianji, Jueying, and others led their remaining forces in a continuous retreat, their faces etched with deep fatigue and despair.
Just as everyone was about to give up.
"Boom!!!"
A brilliant golden light fell straight from the high heavens!
But... it didn't look like a descent; it was more like an uncontrolled crash.
The golden light slammed heavily into the center of the courtyard, kicking up dust and debris, forming a huge impact crater.
The entire battlefield instantly fell silent.
The smoke and dust slowly dissipated.
A figure staggered up from the pit.
It was Wei Guoan!
It was their supreme leader, The Watcher!
"Le... Leader?"
The Fuzi's eyes widened; he could barely believe what he was seeing.
In his understanding, The Watcher was invincible, the stabilizing force of Tianming Pavilion, a god-like existence.
But the man before him looked somewhat... dishevelled?
The other Tianming Pavilion members' minds were completely blank.
On the other side, the previously berserk Ren Shitou, upon seeing Wei Guoan, his crimson eyes suddenly erupted with terrifying light.
He stopped all indiscriminate attacks, his muscles instantly tensed, bones creaking, and a purer fighting intent locked onto Wei Guoan.
"Roar—!"
He let out a beast-like growl, an excitement that a prey had finally appeared before him.
Wei Guoan completely ignored the gazes of his subordinates.
He likewise looked at Ren Shitou... "Beast! How dare you turn on your master!"
This was supposed to be his most proud creation, a chess piece he used to harvest National Luck, yet now he had become the first rebel to wield a butcher's knife against him!
But amidst his anger, a cold sneer also rose in his heart.
The first step of the plan was achieved.
This mad dog had already been lured to the center of the chessboard.
So, what about the other one?
Before he could even speak to give orders and mobilize Tianming Pavilion's forces.
"Boom!"
A loud bang echoed.
The remaining courtyard wall of Tianming Pavilion was violently smashed through by a massive figure, creating a large hole!
Chi Baobao had arrived.
He charged in like an out-of-control tank.
In his eyes, everyone before him looked like... chunks of meat.
And among them, Wei Guoan particularly attracted him!
It wasn't a fighting gaze.
It was a butcher seeing the fattest New Year's pig... "Hehe... Found you."
"My... National Luck pork loin!"
The situation on the field, at this moment, became incredibly bizarre.
A three-way standoff officially formed.
Ren Shitou saw Wei Guoan as a "thief" who had stolen his power, his fighting spirit soaring.
Chi Baobao saw Wei Guoan as a top-grade "main course," his appetite surging.
Wei Guoan, on the other hand, saw these two as "mad dogs" and "monsters" that needed to be eliminated immediately, while also trying his best to maintain his last shred of dignity as the "leader."
As for the people of Tianming Pavilion?
They had completely crashed.
What was happening to this world?
"Kill!"
Without any unnecessary words.
Ren Shitou was the first to attack; the ground beneath his feet exploded, and he himself transformed into an arrow shot from a bow, a heavy punch heading straight for Wei Guoan's face!
Almost at the same instant!
Chi Baobao also moved!
His goal, however, wasn't to kill Wei Guoan, but to... eat!
He opened his mouth wide, his body twisting strangely, aiming directly at the golden dragon of National Luck energy condensed around Wei Guoan!
He wanted to bite off a piece of the most essential "dragon qi"!
"Bastard!"
Wei Guoan roared in anger, forced into the most frustrating battle of his life.
He had to both directly withstand Ren Shitou's storm-like onslaught and constantly guard against Chi Baobao's elusive "sneak attacks"!
"Ang!"
The golden dragon of National Luck roared as it condensed, its golden dragon claws meeting Ren Shitou's fist.
But just as the two collided, the fatty Chi Baobao had already pounced on the golden dragon's tail, opening his gaping maw, and with a "crunch," took a bite!
The golden dragon let out a mournful cry, its tail directly bitten off a large section!
Pure National Luck energy instantly dissipated, then was "slurped" up by Chi Baobao, all of it absorbed into his belly.
"Burp~"
The fatty let out a satisfied burp, his face full of happiness.
Wei Guoan was so angry he almost spat out a mouthful of old blood!
How was he supposed to fight like this?
One was a direct frontal assault, fist to flesh, making his blood churn.
The other was a sneaky side attack, impossible to guard against, eroding his Dao heart!
His golden dragon of National Luck, barely condensed, was jointly attacked by the two, flickering on and off, struggling on all sides, utterly dishevelled.
He couldn't wait any longer!
If he waited any longer, he would truly be exhausted to death by these two monsters here!
A resolute ruthlessness flashed in Wei Guoan's eyes; he had prepared his troops for a thousand days for this one moment. If not now, when?
"Everyone listen to my command! I am The Watcher!"
"These two monsters before us are extraterrestrial demons, attempting to subvert our Dragon Kingdom!"
"Ren Shitou has been controlled by the demon; show no mercy! Now, gather all your strength, spare no effort, and join me in executing these two!"
The Fuzi, Jueying, and others trembled.
Although their hearts were filled with countless questions, the long-instilled obedience still made them subconsciously make a choice.
"Understood!"
They forcibly suppressed their injuries, reorganized their remaining forces, and prepared to cooperate with Wei Guoan to launch a thunderous strike.
The tide of battle seemed about to turn at this moment!
Wei Guoan's face finally revealed a sinister smile.
Everything could still return to his control!
However, just as the Tianming Pavilion members were about to act.
Dongfang Yue, who had been standing on the periphery of the battle, suddenly moved.
These days, as her status increased, her prestige among the Tianming Pavilion members also grew significantly.
She issued her command to these people.
"Don't go up."
The people preparing to die paused.
Dongfang Yue continued in a mesmerizing tone, slowly adding.
"In this level of battle, what's the difference between us going up and being cannon fodder?"
"The Leader's command is for us to spare no effort... Have you thought, who is that effort?"
"You are the foundation of Tianming Pavilion; accumulating strength and holding your ground is the wisest choice."
These few words were like a clap of thunder!
Instantly awakening all the Tianming Pavilion members who were ready to charge into battle!
So we are the "effort"!
Ren Shitou, cultivated by Tianming Pavilion with all its resources, the monster who eats people, and Leader Wei Guoan, who represents National Luck... their power was insignificant before these people.
As for some damned extraterrestrial demons!
This was clearly a disaster brought on by the Leader himself, who fabricated an excuse, and now wanted them to fill the pit with their lives!
Their "Watcher," whom they revered as a god, merely treated them as disposable chess pieces!
"Buzz—"
Many people's minds buzzed; their faith, at this moment, shattered into pieces.
The Fuzi's hand, already raised to give the signal for a full assault, also froze in mid-air... Wei Guoan discovered with horror that the situation's development had completely deviated from his script.
His most proud trump card, his most trusted chess piece—Tianming Pavilion, not only failed to obey his command, but instead... everyone looked at him with a gaze of onlookers!
That gaze was cold, distant, and even carried a hint of mockery.
The three-way hunt, at this moment, underwent a subtle yet fatal change.
The target became unprecedentedly unified.
The Tianming Pavilion members no longer attacked; they silently, step by step, retreated, forming a more secure encirclement.
By their "inaction," they completely cut off all of Wei Guoan's escape routes.
Their betrayal was silent, yet most deadly!
Ren Shitou's attacks, unimpeded by Tianming Pavilion's retreat, became even more frenzied!
Chi Baobao found that those annoying "flies" around him had all retreated, finally able to concentrate on enjoying his "main course," his offensive becoming even more bizarre and deadly!
"No... no!!"
Wei Guoan felt the killing intent from all directions; he finally felt a hint of fear.
He looked at his subordinates, cold as ice, and let out a roar mixed with confusion and anger.
"You actually... betrayed me!!"
Inside the hotel next door.
Lu Cheng looked at Wei Guoan's ugly display of impotent rage on the screen and smiled with satisfaction.
He continued to teach Ji Ling... "You see, Ling'er."
"Sometimes, what crushes a person is never a powerful enemy."
"But a single, perfectly timed truth."